WASHING DISHES AGAIN by Emma Nicola

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 9, 1901

WASHING DISHES AGAIN.

By Emma Nicola

MRS. EMMA NICOLA. (College View, Neb.)

SOME seem to think washing dishes a “dreadful thing,” but I really enjoy it; and I believe the way I go at it is what makes it so pleasant. After taking up the victuals, I pour water into the kettle or dish in which the food has been cooked, and set it off the stove. This I do immediately, never allowing the food to dry onto one pan, skillet, or kettle. Then as soon as the meal is over, I gather up the dishes, carefully scraping off all crumbs. After placing all in order upon the table, I wash the kettles, pans, buckets, skillets, etc., dry them thoroughly on the stove, to keep them from rusting, and place them away in their respective places. I then clean my stove, wash out my dish-pan and stove-cloth, and throw out the water. By that time things begin to look quite neat, and the rest of the dish washing seems like play. After getting clean water and a clean cloth, I finish up the dishes.

This has always been my way of washing dishes ever since I was a little girl. I well remember when there were “several of us” together in my girlhood home, and we would take “turn about” washing dishes. Just as sure as it came my turn, I would have a lot of kettles “left over” to wash, and sometimes they would not have water in them either. The girls would say they left them for me because I liked to wash them, for I was sure to clean them all up the first thing.

There are many beautiful verses in the Bible that we may think of while washing dishes. One that I often think of is Isa. 1:16: “Wash you, make you clean;” also Ps. 51:7: “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”

Oh that the mothers, sisters, and children could learn to do their home duties as “unto the Lord,” realizing that they are working for their loved ones, who are nearer and dearer to them than all the world!